Buzzword Chasers

This is part two of the four part blog series. You can find part one here, which covers how Insights for Search works and what it provides for users. This next entry focuses on the positive aspects and benefits of Google’s Insights for Search.

What is Great about Insights?

Precision

It seems that Insights wants the user to get the best possible results they can obtain and that’s why as a user you can really tailor your search to your specifications. For example, on the search page you may want to search for the term “Apple” but perhaps you want to be more specific. Under “compare by” you can select “locations” to pick an exact area you would like to see product interest. You can then select United States, pick any state, then specify any sub-region or metro. (I selected United States, Connecticut, Hartford).

Now fix your search to any time range; maybe over the past couple of days, years, months and so on. This allows the user to see what kind of interest is generated by Apple in a specific region, at a specific time. (The results page and its graphs will then show the interest of the “Apple” search over that specific time span).

Comparisons

Google Insights not only allows you to search one item, but you can compare up to five items at one time (all made to your specifications). So you can compare the trends of Apple, Dell, Acer, IBM and HP all at the same time. (Just click on “add search term” to type in your desired products).

Each company will appear in its own color (a legend is nearby) on the graphs, showing what and where the products have received the most interest. Pretty cool, huh?

Precision II

Not only does Insights allow for specific products to be compared and searched in certain regions and time periods, but it allows users to search items in specific categories. The whole search of the five computers can be searched under internet, or electronics, or social networks, and much more. These categories allow for different results. Depending on what a user is searching for (what types of interests in specific areas they are looking to discover) the site can make such information readily available.

Informative

Insights shows us these charts and graphs, but it also relates and links the certain points of interest on the graph to articles. For example, when Insights provided me with the “interest over time graph” for Apple it showed me that in January 2009 there was a rising interest in Apple because the company’s CEO, Steve Jobs, took a leave of absence. There is a link to an article about his leave. The graph shows you that the peaking interest (the letter C icon) was perhaps due to the fact that the CEO was taking some time off.

Comprehensive & User Friendly

It’s always useful to have a search website that provides comprehensive factual information and statistics, but it’s even more effective when it’s done in a straightforward, easy-to-use fashion. Insights does just that. If you ever have a problem their “About” section is very informative. The section clarifies what the information on each chart and graph states. Helpful tips explain how the site works, what it’s used for, and how the information is even obtained. You can even search for answers to your questions by using “about contacting support” on the Insights page. (Just click on “examples” on the Insights homepage, and you’ll be directed to its help page with links to support and much more).